Range Day should leave you with one feeling, and one feeling along, accomplishment. If you leave and you don’t have that overwhelming feeling of: “I’ve really got some quality training in today,” then you might want to rethink your target use. How might you do that? With better targets of course, because the best shooting targets are the ones that make you better. This means you should be getting a lot of variety with targets which aim—pun intended—to improve what skills you have or want to have one of these days.
1. IQ Target
The IQ target is a great option for shooters who want to mix things up a bit. Instead of sticking with the mundane, why not look at focusing on intellectual shooting. You can use this target with friends or a range instructor to call scenarios such as, “shoot all the triangles with a number in it” or pair it with RE Factor Tactical’s Dead Man’s Hand Shooting Deck, to give yourself various drills when no one else is around to do it for you.
The idea of this target is to force shooters to think about where they’ll be aiming next. With target transitions and more complex scenarios, you’ll improve your quality of training and fun on the range. They also come in a rifle or pistol version, so you can work on your marksmanship no matter what which piece of weaponry you own.
Specs
• Measures: 23 x 35 in.
• Unlimited amount of shooting combinations
• Pistol targets: 3 in. shapes
• Rifle targets: 5 in. shapes
• Made in the USA
2. Essentials Target
Next, we have the Essentials Target. It definitely lives up to its name, considering its intent is to help you work on those essential skills you’ll need to be a precision shooter. Combine it with the Essential Shooting Guide, and you’re more likely to run out of bullets before you run out of drills.
The idea of this target is to give variety and help improve your slow aimed fire, weak and off hand shooting, target transition, trigger speed changes, drawing, magazine reloads and controlled multiple shot groups, which makes it one of the best shooting targets on the market.
Specs
• Measures: 23″ x 35″
• Unlimited amount of shooting combinations
• Designed to maximize range time
• Made in the USA
3. Hitman Target
If you’re looking for variety—which every marksman should strive for—then there’s no doubt the Hitman target is perfect for you. Like the IQ Targets, you can use it for both pistol and rifle, and practice drills such as the 1-2-3 Drill while you’re at it.
This target is intended to offer long-range shooters a comprehensive zeroing and engagement system for precision marksmanship. It also comes with a grid overlay system so shooters can see their impact offset and adjusted onto different zeroing squares, which come in 1-3”. This helps the shooter to maintain an MOA zero at 100, 200, and 300 yards with precision aiming points at their centers. If that’s not enough, the squares have also been colored to contrast with red and black reticles for improved sight picture. Lastly, the target can be rotated 90º for MILDOT measurements for wind call adjustments.
Specs
• Measures: 23″ x 35″
• Metric and US/Imperial units of measure
• Grid overlay system
• Made in the USA
4. Steiner CQB Target
Steiner CQB (Close Quarters Battle) is great for the want to be marksman. In most cases, people who’ve never shot a weapon before, get one for home protection. Well, there is no better time for a well-placed round than during a break in or active shooter situation. If that’s what you’re preparing for, why not work on your marksman skills with the Steiner CQB target. You’ll have multiple points of aim—which is way better than a single round target—and you can practice staring your enemy in the eye while you do it.
This target is intended to help shooters understand shot placement, with shapes laid over the normal human’s vital sign areas. It also give the shooter additional targets for multiple training opportunities, including target transition.
Specs
• Made in the USA
• Measures 23 x 35″
5. Dartboard Target
Finally, what kind of range practice are you really getting in if you can’t have fun while you’re doing it? Well first off, all range days should be fun, so strive for that with the dartboard target. Not only can you use this target like the rest of them, but you can use it to challenge and play a fun game of “darts” with your shooting pal. The only difference, you’ll be using bullets instead.
This target is intended to not only offer the shooter a fun experience but to improve your skills at the same time. It features a standard dartboard and game instructions on how to keep score when competing against other shooters, which will definitly add to the fun.
Specs
• Measures 23″ x 35″
• 20″ Dartboard
• 3 included games
• Scorecard
• Made in the USA
So, if you’re aiming—again pun intended—to improve your skills and become a marksman shooter, why not check out some of the best shooting targets on the market, aimed at making you the best shooter in the field, trust us, you won’t regret it.